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In a move that has stirred considerable debate, New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently introduced legislation aimed at curtailing local government collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This proposal comes during an election year, drawing attention to the ongoing discussion around immigration policies in the Empire State.
The governor’s initiative coincides with similar sentiments expressed by New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani, who has openly advocated for the dissolution of ICE. Such positions have energized those opposed to the agency, further evidenced by recent protests in New York City. Earlier this week, demonstrators, including some Columbia University faculty members, gathered outside the university. They called for stronger protections for international students, urging the institution to designate itself a “sanctuary campus” to better safeguard its community.
Hochul dubbed her proposal the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, emphasizing that police officers don’t need to assist ICE with civil immigration enforcement in order to keep communities safe. “(ICE) has over $85 billion at their disposal … so they have what they need,” Hochul said at her Manhattan office on Friday. “So don’t buy the argument we have to be there because ICE needs help … We have other responsibilities for our local law enforcement.”
Not surprisingly, between Hochul’s actions and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (DS) calling for ICE to be abolished, anti-ICE agitators are clearly emboldened, something that played out in the Big Apple earlier in the day as demonstrators – including some faculty members – threw tantrums outside of Columbia University in demanding they do a better job of protecting “international students” on campus, which they want to be a “sanctuary campus.”